As part of its continuous work to promote a more equitable and inclusive urban food system, RISE, together with its partners in the KOPAJA Consortium, successfully held the GEDI-GALS Coaching Clinic from June 30 to July 4, 2025, at the Oakwood Merdeka Hotel in Bandung. This activity serves as a follow-up to the foundational training on GEDI (Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) and GALS (Gender Action Learning System) provided to program implementation partners of Urban Futures Indonesia in the previous year.
The event was designed as a reflective and practical space to strengthen partners’ technical capacity and commitment to integrating the GEDI approach and GALS approach in a more contextual and sustainable manner into research and community engagement, particularly among young people, who are key actors in the social change agenda.
Urban Futures is a five-year global collaborative program focused on transforming urban food systems through a rights-based approach, climate action, and youth well-being. In Indonesia, the program is implemented in two cities: Bandung and West Manggarai. RISE Foundation, along with Frontiers for Health and SEMAK Foundation, are part of the KOPAJA Consortium as the main implementing partners in Bandung.
Through this Coaching Clinic, implementing partners are not only encouraged to deepen their theoretical understanding but also to hone their practical skills in designing, evaluating, and implementing research and community activities with an approach that is responsive to issues of gender inequality, disability, and other social inclusions.
The Coaching Clinic is divided into two main clusters: the Research Cluster and the Community Engagement Cluster. In the starting days, partners who have been or are currently conducting research activities are invited to review their approaches and findings with facilitators, and discuss strategies for integrating GEDI-GALS into their work processes in a more contextual and practical manner. Meanwhile, the Community Engagement sessions focus on direct community engagement, particularly with young people, through facilitation practices using GALS visual tools such as the Vision Journey.
One of the most meaningful moments in this group of activities was the field practice conducted in Sadang Serang Village. During this visit, participants interacted directly with the young community supported by the Urban Futures program and practically applied the GEDI-GALS approach in a dynamic setting. This not only strengthened their understanding of the local social context, but also enriched their perspectives in designing programs that are truly participatory and responsive to community needs.
During the five days of the Coaching Clinic, all participants showed high enthusiasm. The discussions were lively, critical, and collaborative. The partners showed openness to learning from each other, through thematic discussion sessions, facilitation simulations, and daily reflections facilitated with a participatory approach. The peer learning sessions were very meaningful as they brought together real and challenging field experiences, while also providing material for collective reflection on future strategy improvements.
RISE Foundation believes that true social transformation cannot be achieved without ensuring that the voices of vulnerable groups, particularly women, people with disabilities, and youth, are meaningfully represented in decision-making processes. The GEDI-GALS Coaching Clinic is a concrete manifestation of this commitment: building capacity, expanding perspectives, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable city.
We extend our gratitude to all partners and facilitators for their active participation in this initiative. RISE Foundation remains committed to accompanying the transformation process, promoting inclusive practices, and ensuring that urban development leaves a lasting positive impact for all.
